Security Systems for Housing Developments

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Handling the security requirements of housing development projects can be quite challenging. Given the scale of the development along with the numerous security challenges, it is always best to go with professional services to get the most out of your security budget.

Read below to learn more about the security systems and the best practices for securing housing developments and how you can go about planning the security requirements of your project without going overboard on the budget.

Covering All Bases

Housing development projects have been on the rise and for good reason! The global economic shifts along with microeconomic factors have made the importance of large development projects extremely clear.

However, a housing development project is only as good as the security it provides. Just like any other business, a development project with more security will be perceived as better when compared to other similar projects with a flawed security system.

There are several ways to go about the security of a large development project. The first thing is to install a robust CCTV system that not only covers all the blind spots around the housing development but also records everything on a failproof system that can produce high-quality footage whenever needed.

CCTV systems come in many varieties, however, for housing development, it is always best to go with a hard-wired system that can continuously record security footage without lapsing.

Although wireless systems can also work in this scenario, due to the numerous environmental factors that can interfere with the signal of the camera system, it is best to stick to a high-quality wired system.

An even better solution would be to go with wireless systems indoors. Since housing development projects usually have several buildings in one area, you can cover the lobby, staircases, or other areas with wireless cameras.

If you want the security footage of both indoor and outdoor cameras to be online, then you will have to adopt a hybrid CCTV system that uses wired and wireless technologies. In this case, the camera footage may be recorded using a wired system but the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) that saves the footage locally can also transmit the data over the cloud on a secure server. This type of system is perfect for people who want to manage their projects remotely or have access to security footage from anywhere in the world.

Please keep in mind though, that hybrid systems are usually costlier since you will also have to add on the cost of server space and other related costs for maintaining the camera system.

Another excellent way to protect housing developments is to use Access Control Systems. These systems are a great way to control the inflow of residents or building personnel. An effective Access Control System can keep unauthorised people away from restricted areas. For example, you can have these systems installed in utility management departments that control water, gas, or electricity supplies.

Access control systems can also be extremely useful for residents who enter the housing development premises. Keypad locks or RFID cards can be employed to facilitate the entry and exit of residents. A great benefit of going with this route is that you will also be able to document the individual visits of every person who enters the premises, should you require their whereabouts during a security breach.

These systems can also be useful for housing development employees! Access control will not only be able to track the inflow of employees on the premises, but you can also use these systems to record attendance.

Effective Best Practices for Securing Housing Developments

The scale of housing development projects can make security not just challenging but also costly. However, the good news is that you don’t have to go overboard with your budget when planning out the security measures for your project. First of all, we highly recommend going with a professional service like Calder Security which has extensive experience in securing large businesses.

Going with a security company can significantly cut down the total security costs as you wouldn’t have to go through the entire trial and error process. Security companies are more than equipped to handle both business and enterprise needs – and the best part is that they also have a lot of experience dealing with other similar projects. This means that you won’t have to waste time and simply use the experience of these professionals to make a customised security plan for your project.

There are also some best practices that you can keep in mind to further strengthen the security of your housing development project.

Here are a few common practices to adopt:

Light it Up!

One profound way to deter crime and increase visibility is to go with a proper lighting system. Using proper lighting may sound simple but you would be surprised by just how many people skip over this basic requirement. Lights not only illuminate, but they also help pre-existing CCTV systems to record clearer video!

It is no surprise that criminals use the help of the dark or nighttime during their nefarious operations. Thankfully, by covering a few blind spots and illuminating the housing development, you can bring down the risk of theft and increase the visibility of your premises tenfold.

A side benefit of going this route is that it can also add to the overall customer appeal of your housing development. A well-lit project is much more likely to be noticed and perceived as safe than other housing projects that aren’t well-lit.

Keep a Varied Approach

When it comes to security, variety is just as important as coverage! As mentioned above, the types of security systems that you install in your housing development will determine its level of security. Just installing CCTV cameras is not enough!

There have been several accounts where businesses have tried to save a few pounds just to cut down their initial security costs but have ended up paying much more later when their system failed to prevent a crime. CCTV cameras, fire alarms, intruder alarms, lighting, and Access Control Systems are just a few ways that you can increase the security of your housing development project.

Get an Audit

Security audits are an essential part of housing development projects. An audit can help highlight key problems in existing security systems and highlight the ways that you can improve or install a new system. If you are seriously considering revamping your housing development security system, then we highly recommend that you go with a professional audit and security risk assessment.

The good news is that most professional security companies, like Calder Security, are more than capable of conducting an audit. This means that you don’t have to hire an individual company just to perform the audit and then a separate company to fulfil the requirements revealed in the audit.

Calder Security covers all bases and provides a holistic security solution – and since Calder also provides several other tertiary services like maintenance and repair services, you can also get your preexisting systems repaired to revamped with just one team.

Security Training and Monitoring

A security system is just as good as the people who use it. While security systems can detect and record crime, it is up to human resources to successfully report and prevent crime. Luckily, you can have a specialised team of individuals who monitor the security of your housing development project!

This is where security training comes in. After you have finalised a security layout for your project, it is best to simultaneously start training your employees while the system is being implemented. This way, by the time the security system is in place, your employees will know exactly how to follow protocol.

If you don’t want to keep a large team, then another great way to have the premises monitored is by using a dedicated monitoring team. Calder Security provides high-class monitoring services where security professionals can not only monitor the housing development, but they can also take appropriate action if they notice a security threat on the premises. This solution is by far the best for large housing projects that require constant surveillance!

Best Security Systems for Housing Developments

Here is a list of some of the most common security systems for housing developments:

Perimeter Security

Setting up appropriate perimeter security is vital for building an effective security system. One of the best ways to secure your project would be to set up fences and install gates to control the entry and exit of personnel and residents.

Perimeter security works with other security measures to provide a comprehensive solution. Luckily, Calder Security also provides professional perimeter security services to protect your housing development. We also recommend going with a robust CCTV system near exits and gates to cover both the inside and outside of the premises.

Access Control Systems and Intercoms

Intercoms are a basic and easy way to enable communication in large spaces. Since housing development can cover a large real estate, the best way to enable swift communication between security departments is to have either wireless radio technology or a wired intercom system. Make sure that you employ the use of intercoms near exits and entrances where security personnel can quickly communicate with other departments to confirm the identity of people who enter and exit the housing development.

Similarly, Access Control Systems can also be installed for personnel who regularly visit the premises. For example, suppliers, workers, and building employees who regularly visit the housing development can quickly enter the premises using their keycard or RFID tag. This way they don’t have to go through redundant security checks. An upside of this type of security system is that you can also have a written and saved record of who entered the premises and their details.

Motion Sensing Security Hardware

If you want to cut down electricity costs or cover rarely visited or high-priority blind spots, then you can go with motion sensors. Sensor-enabled security hardware is all the rage these days and for good reason too! They can only activate when the sensors detect movement which means that if you install motion-sensing lights, then you don’t have to deal with wasted electricity.

Motion-sensing security hardware can also be installed in high-priority or sensitive spaces. For example, motion-sensing hardware can be used in places that guard utility controls. This way, if an unauthorised person enters the premises, then the security system can notify the relevant authorities of the breach.

Fire Alarms and Safety Protocols

For large projects, it is crucial that you not only have the necessary anti-fire hardware but also a fire safety protocol in place. Fortunately, Calder Security specialises in fire safety and provides a comprehensive solution for all your fire alarm needs.

Fire alarms are a crucial part of any modern housing development project and can be extremely useful in bringing down the risk of fires. It would also be a good idea to have an evacuation protocol where you can easily and securely relocate the residents of your housing project in the event of an emergency.

Please keep in mind that installing appropriate fire alarm systems isn’t just necessary but is also a moral obligation for any housing development project owner. These systems are crucial and can save a lot of lives and prevent unwanted damage to your assets.

Always consult with a professional team so that they can help you come up with the appropriate number of alarms and the types of alarms that you can install in different areas of the housing development.

Smart Security Hardware

If you want to modernise your housing development, then we highly recommend that you go for state-of-the-art security hardware. These next-generation smart security systems are built with integration in mind. They work together with other systems to provide an almost fully automated and optimised system. For example, Access Control Systems can work with security cameras that use AI-powered software.

Artificial intelligence is gaining a lot of traction in the security world due to its face recognition capabilities. This means that if an unauthorised person enters the premises the cameras can immediately detect their presence and send out an alarm or a notification to the relevant authorities.

The coolest thing about these systems is that they can also cross-communicate with other security hardware. For example, the CCTV system can send out a prompt to the Access Control system to lock a particular section of the housing development to contain a threat.

These systems can be costly, but they are increasingly becoming an efficient way to manage security in large spaces. However, for the best experience, we recommend that you only go with highly skilled professionals for the installation of holistic security systems. These systems come with their own hardware and software challenges. If these systems are not installed properly, they might not work, or worse, they may not be able to detect threats effectively.

CONTACT CALDER SECURITY

At Calder Security, we provide a comprehensive range of security solutions that include not just professional installation but also monitoring, maintenance, and repair services.

We are members of the Master Locksmith Association (MLA), approved members of the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB), and also conform to all the relevant British and EU Standards.

We follow all the best practices in the industry and install only high-quality, state-of-the-art security systems.

We offer various levels of monitoring via a 24-hour monitoring centre using Dualcom and BT Redcare signalling, which is the most secure alarm monitoring system and the largest supplier of intelligent alarm signalling services in the UK.

We understand the importance of having to regularly maintain security systems since the inability to do so might result in serious faults and consequent vulnerabilities in your property’s security.

We provide professional maintenance checks and reminders for when the checks are due to help you stay compliant with the law and work fast to restore your security systems to excellent condition.

We offer a 24-hour call-out service for customers and can also repair systems not installed by us. Our engineers are highly skilled and can restore faulty systems to full working order in one visit.

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